By Mark Saldana
Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
From Serbian director Rasko Miljkovic, comes this lovable and poignant story of friendship between two troubled preteens. The two main characters of The Witch Hunters may have their own different struggles in life, but the bond they share helps both of them to find the courage to face any challenge life dishes out. Mihajlo Milavić stars as Jovan, a shy, smart, and imaginative boy afflicted with cerebal palsy, who often finds himself the subject of ridicule of bullying by his classmates. Silma Mahmuti stars as Milicia, a strong-willed and courageous girl whose parents are in the process of getting a divorce. She befriends Jovan and looks out for him.. As Jovan and Milicia become good friends, they devise a secret plan to destroy “the evil witch” who split Milicia’s parents.
Based on the novel by Jasmina Petrovic, writers Milos Krecvkovic, Marko Manojlovic, and director Rasko Miljkovic have made a winning and absolutely charming film with The Witch Hunters. Though I wanted a more exciting and more humorous climax, I still found the heartfelt story of friendship amidst life’s troubles irresistible. Both Silma Mahmuti and Mihajlo Milavić perform beautifully and share a wonderful chemistry. The Witch Hunters is a lovely family film that I must highly recommend.